Power Sector News and Other Related News Stories For Tuesday September 27th 2022
Nigeria’s Erratic Power Grid Collapses Again, Begins Recovery
Nigeria’s fragile national electricity grid suffered its seventh collapse in 2022 yesterday, temporarily throwing the entire country into another total blackout.
Although there had not been an official statement from the system operator, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), THISDAY’s checks at the real-time on-grid network about 5pm showed that power was being gradually restored nationwide.
Earlier, when the news of the grid collapse filtered in, the data showed that no power generation plant was active, while about 19 plants were generating a combined 3,302 megawatts, with Shiroro Hydro at 573MW around 10am before the grid failure.
The last time the grid collapsed was in August and it was occasioned by the shutdown of the country’s power supply infrastructure by protesting members of the National Union Electricity Employees (NUEE).
About 5pm yesterday, although a number of homes had power restored, especially in Abuja, majority of the power generation plants had yet to come on stream, with the network still dealing with severe fluctuations.
National Grid Begins Slow Recovery After 7th Collapse in 2022
MOST businesses and homes were again left without power supply for several hours yesterday after Nigeria’s national grid collapsed again, the 7th time this year.
The last national system collapse was recorded on the 13th of June 2022 but the system was deliberately shut down last month by protesting electricity workers.
Checks by Vanguard on National System Operator’s data showed that the grid which collapsed at 10.51 am has begun a gradual recovery.
NSO data as at 5pm showed that eight power generation plants had returned to the grid with a combined output of 849MW.
The electricity distribution company, DisCos, had earlier in the day notified their customers of the disruption in power supply.
In a notice to its customers, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC, EEDC, informed its “esteemed customers of a system collapse which occurred at 10:51 am today (yesterday), 26th September 2022. This has resulted in the loss of supply currently being experienced across the network.
Nigeria’s Electricity Grid Collapses Again
The nation’s electricity grid, operated from Osogbo, has again experienced a system collapse, causing blackouts across the country.
The grid, which is managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), collapsed around 10:51 a.m. yesterday.
TCN is the only critical aspect of the electricity market in the country still being managed by the government.
Fast becoming normal, electricity distribution companies (DisCos) across the country have already issued notice to consumers, blaming the blackout on the latest breakdown.
Most of the DisCos said reasons for the collapse are yet to be ascertained while TCN did not provide an immediate response on the cause of the failure and restoration plan.
Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EEDC), in a statement by Head of Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh, said: “Due to this development, all our interface TCN stations are out of supply and we are unable to provide service to our customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and the Imo States.
https://guardian.ng/news/nigerias-electricity-grid-collapses-again/
MOJEC Leads Sustainability Drive in Nigeria’s Energy Sector
Mojec International’s vision to set the pace as a reputable power solution company has again been harped on at the just concluded 2022 Nigeria Energy Conference.
The Conference themed, Affordable, “Reliable and Sustainable Energy Through Collaboration,” was organised by the Nigeria Energy Exhibition and Conference.
Held at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, the conference saw key stakeholders and players in the Nigeria Energy sector, government ministries and regulators to gas companies supplying fuel to grid-connected plants and independent power producers, distribution companies and the bodies mandated to facilitate the development of renewable energy and off-grid solutions in attendance as it kicked-off in Lagos. In her virtual presentation session titled, ‘Solving Nigeria’s Power Challenges Through Smart Electricity Metering’, Group Managing Director, MOJEC International, Chantelle Abdul said the company, pioneered the concept of smart metering technology in Nigeria by setting up a state-of-the-art electricity meter manufacturing plant in the country with a production capacity of 1,200,000 meters annually designed to serve the local African markets. It has achieved giant strides in distributions of meters in collaboration with Discos across the nation.
Blackout in Parts Of FCT as National Grid Collapse
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has confirmed that the national grid collapsed on Monday.
AEDC in a statement on its Twitter page blamed the power outages in parts of FCT on the grid collapse.
It electricity company said the situation was being handled and that power would be restored in the shortest possible time.
A statement from the AEDC read; ”Dear Esteemed Customer, Please be informed that the current power outage is due to a system failure from the National Grid.
”The system collapsed at about 10:55am today, 26th September 2022, causing the outage currently being experienced.
”We appeal for your understanding as all stakeholders are working hard to restore normal supply.”
https://dailypost.ng/2022/09/26/blackout-in-parts-of-fct-as-national-grid-collapse/
As First Phase Mass Deployment Winds Down, Nigeria’s Metering Rate Declines to 71% In Q4
The rate of deployment of electricity meters, which had picked up in the first half of 2021, declined by a whopping 71.6 per cent in the last quarter amid the winding down of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) sponsored by the federal government.
Information released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in its latest quarterly report, also put the total number of registered customers as of 31 December 2021 at 10.514 million out of which only 4.773 million had been metered, representing a 45.40 per cent coverage.
The Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) has a huge metering gap despite the launch of several metering programmes of electricity consumers in the past.
A number of the initiatives had failed and have been replaced with new programmes, with estimated billing still remaining a major issue for customers without metering devices.
In September 2020, the federal government launched the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) with the backing of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which although slow, initially aided the ramping up of the metering efforts.
Ogun Communities Lament 100-Year Darkness, Electricity Project Rots
No fewer than 53 communities in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, have lamented the hardship of living in darkness for more than 100 years despite a World Bank Electrification Project in the area.
The landlords, residents, and business owners, who spoke to our correspondent, said they had never enjoyed power supply since the creation of the communities.
The affected communities include Alagbada, Fayoyi, Ajegunle, Erinpa 1, Erinpa 2, Abule Babalana, Sunwa Ajegunle, Mokoya/ Ogbungiri, Abule Anila, Abule Alata, Aruku, Pakoyi, Lashilo, Oloje, Idi Iroko, Abotokio, Kajola, Kajola- Alaga, Ijaka-Isale, and Ijaka– Oke.
Others are Ile – Ijoun, Eeja, Ile-Ika, Ijale – Ketu, Iyana Agbede, Oke Odo Tobolo, Tobolo, Ibiyan, Agbefa, Okuta Gogoro, Lafenwa, Anga, Akeru agbo Ogede, Ageru Abeobi, Akeru llukan, Akeru Ajiode, Oke Igbala / Ijege, Ikotun, Ologiri, Ojumo, Igbeme, Isagba, Orile Oke Igbooro, Orile Igbooro, Abule Kuse, Iselu, Iselu-Orile, Egbeda, Ibeku, Agbon Ojodu, Kodera and Asa.
It was learnt that the project was awarded in 2007 under the National Energy Development Project through the Project Management Unit of the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
The project was expected to provide and install a 50/25 KVA pole-mounted transformer across the 53 communities with the distribution of free meters to residents.
https://punchng.com/ogun-communities-lament-100-year-darkness-electricity-project-rots/
Nasarawa Electricity Consumers Kick Against Alleged 400% Rise in Tariff
Several electricity consumers in Karu, Nasarawa state, have kicked against the prolonged estimated billing by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
They have therefore called on the National Assembly, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and other relevant agencies to quickly prevail on the company to review what it said is the 400 per cent increase in the communities also demanded an explanation for non-uniform band categories placed on individual families within the same compounds around Mararaba, a densely populated area of Karu local government.
In protest letters to the authorities, the communities alleged that the AEDC had refused to install meters and had continued with the practice of estimated billings despite several promises.
Some of the areas include: Assemblies of God Church Community, Alhaji Audu, Unubi , Aunty Alice Road Community as well as Primary Healthcare area.
Illegal Connections, Meter Bypass Killing Our Business – KEDCO
Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO, has warned customers against engaging in meter bypass and illegal connections in its Kano franchise.
The warned is contained in a statement issued by KEDCO’s Deputy General Manager, Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Sani-Shawai, on Monday in Kano.
“Illegal connections and meter bypass, amongst others, constitute biggest threats to improvement of power supply and had also resulted in economic losses for the company.
“In recent time, our task force had uncovered several households that had bypassed their meters and engaged in illegal connections.
“Those caught were advised to come and pay their penalties for reconnection, as refusal to pay such before reconnecting their lines will result in more penalties,” he said.
https://dailynigerian.com/electricity-illegal/
Five Ways to Reduce Your Electricity Bill
It is no longer news that there has been a hike in electricity tariffs. Outrageous electricity bills have been given to customers. This is the kind that makes your heart beat so fast.
Electricity is one of the basic necessities you need as a human, so there is no way you can stop using it.
The best you can do is to reduce electricity usage so you get to pay less.
However, this article will enlighten you on more ways to reduce your electricity bill.
- Install a prepaid meter
This is one of the wisest and best ways to reduce your electricity bill. Using a prepaid meter prevents you from receiving outrageous bills from your electricity company. You get to buy electricity and it limits your usage. You use only what you buy, and it helps you cut down on the amount of electronics you use.
- Turn off unnecessary bulbs and switches
Turning on bulbs and switches when not in use consumes more power. Some people leave their bulbs on even when they are at work. This will make you pay more at the end of the month.
Turning them off when not in use reduces your bill and also saves you from fire outbreaks.
https://tribuneonlineng.com/five-ways-to-reduce-your-electricity-bill/
